For three weeks, she didn‘t know. Then Susan Allen‘s phone buzzed one day last month as she was driving to the bank. Her subdued husband told her he had confirmed the rumor: His mother and grandparents were Jewish.

Sen. George Allen (R–Va.) had known the truth since late August, but he had ke >>>

AM WASHINGTON –– Drawing on its successes and failures in Iraq, the military is completing a new counterinsurgency strategy that emphasizes working with and protecting civilians, defense officials said Thursday.

The Army and Marines have jointly written a new field manual that is to provide command >>>

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Reserve remains worried inflation is too high, but is also watching to see how much a "substantial correction" in housing markets will slow economic growth, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON –– The House Ethics Committee met Thursday to investigate the unfolding scandal over Rep. Mark Foley‘s come–ons to congressional pages and accusations even by some Republicans that House speaker Dennis Hastert failed to protect the teens.

MIAMI (Reuters) – The state that gave the world butterfly ballots and the hanging chad is headed for a new battle over whether and how voters should be told that disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley has dropped out of the Florida congressional race.

GREENVILLE, S.C. –– Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday that Democratic sex scandals have been far worse than the suggestive Internet messages sent to teenage congressional pages by former Rep. Mark Foley.

Gingrich said Democrats have wanted to punish their offenders less than the GOP >>>

PM WASHINGTON –– As explorers investigated the world in centuries past they began pondering a puzzle called the "latitudinal diversity gradient." That‘s science talk for: The farther you go from the tropics, the fewer different kinds of plants and animals there are.

Some lawmakers pay a lot of attention to their Web sites. Others less so. Up until just the other day –– sources say Monday –– House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert ‘s site was highlighting an Aug. 2' news release about how "Hastert Drives Effort to ‘Keep Kids Safe in Cyberspace.& >>>

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan pressed on with efforts on Thursday to secure a U.N. condemnation of North Korea‘s nuclear test threat after Washington, in its starkest warning so far, said it would not live with a nuclear–armed Pyongyang.

October 5, 2006; A01 The message exchanges included plenty of kid stuff –– talk of killer finals and botched SATs, cramming to learn the lines of a school play, picking up a sister at cheerleading practice. But when two former pages sat down at their computers to furtively chat with then–Rep. Mark Fol >>>

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top House Republican, under fire for his handling of a Capitol Hill sex scandal, gained support on Wednesday but new questions arose about when he was told of a former congressman‘s troubling behavior toward teenage boys.

BOSTON –– The buzz here this autumn is all about the newcomer to elective politics who is threatening to break the hold that Republicans have had for an unusually long time on the governorship of this overwhelmingly Democratic state.

By Jennifer FreyWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, October 5, 2006; C01 She found it in the shower, in one of those interchangeable hotel bathrooms that are a staple of campaign life. It was October 2004, and Elizabeth Edwards was in Kenosha, Wis., stumping for her husband, Democratic vice presidential nominee John >>>

5, 2006; A13 Federal prosecutors yesterday ordered the House of Representatives to preserve all documents and other materials related to Mark Foley‘s electronic communications with male teenage pages, signaling an intensifying investigation by the FBI and the Justice Department into possible criminal activity by >>>

In dire circumstances –– a battlefield, a devastating natural disaster or an overcrowded emergency room –– we accept the rationing of scarce resources as a necessary if regrettable choice. We triage. We divide patients into three groups: the safe cases, those suitable for treatment and the hopel >>>

Foley ballot notice headed for battle in Florida MIAMI (Reuters) – The state that gave the world butterfly ballots and the hanging chad is headed for a new battle over whether and how voters should be told that disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley has dropped out of the Florida congressional race. Foley, a six– >>>

PM WASHINGTON –– The Bush administration said Thursday it has forced government agencies and businesses into complying with federal disability laws in more than 2,000 cases over the past five years, mostly without imposing penalties.

A16 The federal government is scaling back its efforts to intercept personal prescription orders mailed from Canada and other countries, a step that could make it easier for consumers to obtain cheaper drugs from abroad.

Beginning Monday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency will end an 11–month >>>

Throughout European history, my country, Ukraine, has been badly misunderstood in Western capitals. Until the middle of the past century, it was referred to as "the Okraina," literally the borderlands between European civilization and a distant and unfathomable Russia. There are perhaps many in Europe who sti >>>

The Reverend Elmer Gantry was reading an illustrated pink periodical devoted to prize–fighters and chorus girls in his room at Elizabeth J. Schmutz Hall late of an afternoon when two large men walked in without knocking.

"Why, good evening, Brother Bains –– Brother Naylor! This is a plea >>>

October 5, 2006; B05 RICHMOND, Oct. 4 –– The big question confronting James Webb when he became Virginia‘s Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in June was this: Could he raise enough money to compete with Republican Sen. George Allen‘s well–funded campaign?

LA PAZ, Bolivia –– President Evo Morales led a squad of journalists in circles Wednesday, leaving them wheezing as they chased the South American leader through the thin air of Bolivia‘s mountain capital.

But the reporters weren‘t looking for a quote, only trying steal the ball during a >>>

By Craig WhitlockWashington Post Foreign ServiceThursday, October 5, 2006; A01 PARIS –– In a video released last month on the Internet, al–Qaeda‘s deputy leader, Ayman al–Zawahiri, declared that he had "great news." Al–Qaeda, he reported, had joined forces with an obscure A >>>

SAO PAULO, Brazil –– Fourteen workers at a juvenile detention center were convicted and sentenced to up to 87 years in prison for beating inmates with iron bars and wood to find out who organized an escape attempt, court officials said Wednesday.

By Doug StruckWashington Post Foreign ServiceThursday, October 5, 2006; A28 TORONTO, Oct. 4 –– Canada‘s conservative government, groping for a new policy on climate change, is facing a dilemma over how to deal with greenhouse gas emissions from the hugely profitable Alberta oil fields in western Canad >>>

MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A group of Somali lawmakers met powerful Islamists in their Mogadishu stronghold after leaving the temporary capital because of growing security fears since last month‘s assassination attempt on the president.

By Manuel Roig–FranziaWashington Post Foreign ServiceThursday, October 5, 2006; A20 HAVANA –– A quarter–century before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a bomb ripped a gash in a civilian jetliner in the skies off Barbados.

PM HASHTGERD, Iran –– President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Wednesday that sanctions will not stop Iran from enriching uranium after a European negotiator conceded "endless hours" of talks had made little progress and suggested the dispute could wind up at the U.N. soon.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Police who beat, sexually abused and raped women arrested after riots in a rebellious town near Mexico City have not been punished and authorities hid what happened, Amnesty International said on Thursday The rights group interviewed women who say they were abused when they were arrested a >>>

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Centre–right opposition leader Fredrik Reinfeldt, who has pledged to cut taxes and trim the welfare state, formally became Sweden‘s new prime minister on Thursday after winning a vote in parliament.

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria –– Troops launched a search–and–rescue mission Thursday for Nigerian soldiers missing after militants ambushed a military–escorted supply convoy in the oil–rich south, and the president called an emergency meeting with security chiefs.

HASHTGERD, Iran, Oct. 4 –– President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Wednesday that sanctions will not stop Iran from enriching uranium after a European negotiator conceded that "endless hours" of talks had made little progress and suggested that the dispute could wind up at the United Nations soon.>>>

BAGHDAD, Iraq –– The U.S. military is performing DNA tests on a slain militant to determine if he is the leader of al–Qaida in Iraq, but U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday it did not appear that Abu Ayyub al–Masri had been killed.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan‘s President Pervez Musharraf asked the international aid community on Thursday for an extra $800 million to cover reconstruction costs after a devastating earthquake a year ago.

Musharraf, addressing a conference to update donors on progress ahead of the October 8 ann >>>

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil –– Prosecutors could charge two American pilots of an executive jet with manslaughter following the high–altitude collision with a Brazilian jetliner that apparently led to a crash that killed all 155 people aboard, federal police said Wednesday.

10:28 AM The Bush administration delivered a secret message to North Korea yesterday warning it to back down from a promised nuclear test, and it said publicly that the United States would not live with a nuclear–armed Pyongyang government.

7:12 AM WEST BANK, Oct. 4 –– Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged Wednesday to "redouble" U.S. efforts to alleviate the economic plight of Palestinians facing escalating tensions and the threat of a humanitarian crisis. But U.S. officials cautioned not to expect any significant breakthrough >>>

BAGHDAD, Iraq –– Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, making an election–season visit to Iraq, said Thursday she will tell its leaders they have limited time to settle political differences spurring sectarian and insurgent violence.

SEOUL, South Korea –– South Korean President Roh Moo–hyun has ordered his government to send a "grave warning" to North Korea about the consequences of a threatened nuclear weapons test, Yonhap news agency reported Thursday.

PM MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan –– After a huge earthquake struck Pakistan and India a year ago, one of the biggest fears was for the more than 3 million newly homeless facing the onset of the Himalayan winter.

The cold proved milder than anticipated. But now another winter is at hand and reconstruction, >>>

PM COLOMBO, Sri Lanka –– The Sri Lankan government said Thursday it was willing to attend talks with Tamil Tiger rebels at the end of the month, while a bombing blamed on rebels killed a soldier, and the air force raided areas in the north and east.

AM BANGKOK, Thailand –– The Thai army chief who staged last month‘s coup said Thursday that he has agreed to hold talks with rebel leaders in the restive south, an abrupt policy change from the administration of the ousted prime minister.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Three more candidates withdrew on Thursday from the race to become U.N. secretary–general, leaving only South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki–Moon to face an official U.N. Security Council vote next week.

PM UNITED NATIONS –– The U.N. Security Council will start discussing a resolution next week that would impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, Britain‘s U.N. ambassador said Thursday.

The council‘s decision to take up a sanctions resolution follows lengthy n >>>

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States called an emergency U.N. Security Council session on Thursday, after Sudan sent a letter warning nations considering troops for Darfur that their action was a "prelude to an invasion." The letter from Sudan‘s U.N. mission was sent to more than 50 states >>>

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russia should shut down a pirate music Web site that is robbing U.S. recording companies of sales if it wants to become a member of the World Trade Organization, the top U.S. trade official said on Wednesday.

"I have a hard time imagining Russia becoming a member of the WTO an >>>

By Walter PincusWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, October 5, 2006; A17 Key senators say Congress has outlawed one of the most notorious detainee interrogation techniques –– "waterboarding," in which a prisoner feels near drowning. But the White House will not go that far, saying it would be wr >>>

ROME (Reuters) – The West should be open to further talks with Iran despite an impasse over its nuclear aspirations, the EU‘s top diplomat said on Thursday, hinting at lingering European hesitation to pursue sanctions sought by Washington.

This autumn social solidarity is a priority, but can anyone agree on how to tackle just what makes communities and groups stick together? Anna Bawden reports Thursday October 5, 2006 SocietyGuardian.co.uk Three strands led to the rediscovery this autumn of social cohesion as a task and objective for public managers.>>>

Documents reveal secret talks in Washington British residents have no right to return say officials Ian Cobain and Vikram Dodd Tuesday October 3, 2006 The Guardian At least nine British residents are held behind the wire at Guantánamo but the US wants to see most of them returned to the UK. Photograph: Brennan Lin >>>

Closing speech will stress personal debt to health service Patrick Wintour, political editor Wednesday October 4, 2006 The Guardian David Cameron works on his conference speech in his hotel room in Bournemouth.

Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA David Cameron today seeks to cast himself and his modernised Tory part >>>

Renewed levy denounced as protectionism Peter Mandelson unveils strategy for open markets David Gow in Brussels Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian The EU yesterday renewed punitive anti–dumping duties on Chinese and Vietnamese shoe imports for two years just as Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner, issue >>>

Owen Gibson, media correspondent Tuesday October 3, 2006 The Guardian Despite the howls of derision it attracted, Tony Blair has decided to tick at least one box of his leaked "exit strategy" by tonight appearing on BBC children‘s show Blue Peter to answer questions from viewers.

Tory fortunes now rest on a man who is more interested in effective process than in tax cuts or public sector reduction Martin Newland Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian A year ago I hosted a dinner for David Cameron and George Osborne at the Tory party conference in Blackpool. During the meal Mr Cameron described h >>>

Matthew Tempest, political correspondent Thursday October 5, 2006 Guardian Unlimited The Labour party has scrapped next year‘s spring conference, but denied the measure is a cost–saving cut in the face of rising debts and an internal reorganisation.

Will Woodward, chief political correspondent Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian The Conservatives moved yesterday to define their own territory on international development as they accused Labour ministers of being soft on the corrupt use of aid cash. But outside speakers at the conference tempered their encourageme >>>

What he said on ... Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian On tax "Everyone in this hall, me included, knows that a low tax economy is a strong economy. Some people want me to flash up some pie–in–the–sky tax cuts just to show what we stand for. Let me tell you straight. That is not substance. And >>>

Challenge to suspension hears of feud with papers ‘Brain not fully engaged‘ during spat with reporter Jeevan Vasagar Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian A high court judge yesterday defended Ken Livingstone against accusations of anti–semitism as the mayor of London appealed against an order suspend >>>

Steven Morris Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian A mayor admitted yesterday he had been foolish and unprofessional in inviting his female town clerk to go on holiday with him. Tony Prior, 67, said he had let down himself, his wife and the people he represented when he became infatuated with Sally Bing, 31.

Tania Branigan, political correspondent Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian Backbencher Tobias Ellwood finished the Tories‘ longest and most popular fringe meeting yesterday, shortly before setting foot in the conference centre for the first time. The Bournemouth East MP had spent the week leading a regeneratio >>>

Britain calls Guantánamo a ‘shocking affront‘, but refuses to lift a finger for this country‘s residents held there without charge Amani Deghayes Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian I am left astounded at the cruel irony. This week we learned that the British government is refusing to allow the >>>

Sarah Boseley, health editor Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian The NHS has met almost all the tough cancer waiting times targets set by the government six years ago, a report from the cancer tsar will say today.

It reveals that nobody suspected of having the disease waits more than a month for treatment af >>>

The demand for social cohesion will give fresh impetus to the perennial quest for joined–up government, writes Adam Taylor Thursday October 5, 2006 SocietyGuardian.co.uk The search for social cohesion is a good instance of where government needs to be "joined up".

Larry Elliott, economics editor Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian Britain‘s leading financial thinktank prompted a political row last night after it said Gordon Brown‘s tax breaks for the working poor had weakened incentives to stay in a job or to earn more. In a critical analysis of the government&lsqu >>>

Matthew Tempest, political correspondent Thursday October 5, 2006 Guardian Unlimited The home secretary, John Reid, is holding emergency talks with senior prison and probation service officials as the prison population approaches full capacity.

As the number of prisoners incarcerated is expected to reach capac >>>

Video confession a fake, says former party leader News of World ‘wanted revenge‘ after libel defeat Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent Wednesday October 4, 2006 The Guardian Tommy Sheridan yesterday accused his former close friends and allies of conspiring with MI5 and Rupert Murdoch to "fake&quot >>>

MP gripped by the threats of communism and climate change Andrew Roth Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian The superior and disdainful manner of the former Conservative MP Sir Ian Lloyd, who has died aged 85, prevented people from taking adequate notice of his first–rate brain. For 28 years, from 1'64 to 1 >>>

Thursday October 5, 2006 The Guardian Boris Johnson faced the faithful after some injudicious remarks about Jamie Oliver. The higher education spokesman insisted he had been "completely misquoted" in remarks which, among other things, supported parents who have been giving fast food to pupils in schools with >>>

Thursday October 5, 2006 6:31 PM By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press Writer GEORGETOWN, Pa. (AP) – A procession of 34 buggies and carriages carried mourners to a hilltop cemetery Thursday as the Amish community buried the first of five girls killed by a gunman inside their tiny one–room schoolhouse.

Thursday October 5, 2006 6:46 PM AP Photo PACK102 By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press Writer GEORGETOWN, Pa. (AP) – A procession of 34 buggies and carriages carried mourners to a hilltop cemetery Thursday as the Amish community buried the first of five girls killed by a gunman inside their tiny one–room schoo >>>

Thursday October 5, 2006 5:01 PM AP Photo PAME102 By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press Writer GEORGETOWN, Pa. (AP) – A trickle of black, horse–drawn buggies glided past roadblocks Thursday as the Amish gathered to bury four of the five young girls who were shot to death inside their schoolhouse Monday.